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Teesside off to flyer           Round Up NBL Trophy: Teesside 121 Manchester 108 New captain Jason Swaine inspired Tees Valley Leisure Mohawks to a stunning 121-108 opening National Trophy success against visitors Manchester Magic with 8 ‘threes’ in his 25 point tally. And the Huddersfield-based point guard did it the hard way after finding himself sat on the bench after just two minutes of the game, not to reappear until the start of the second quarter.  But from there it was all uphill.  The opening play of the session saw the first of those long-range efforts swish through the basket with pinpoint accuracy from a neat EJ Harrison assist.  And Swaine followed up with another three of them before the interval, and probably missed only two attempts from outside the arc all game. It was just the result the side needed said the Yorkshireman.  “We couldn’t have asked for a better start really.  We only had 8 players, which meant everyone got to play, and we looked as though we were really enjoying ourselves out there.  It was good that everyone contributed.” His teammates had already mapped out the way the game would unfold with a tremendous first quarter performance carving out a superb 17 point lead that really stamped the side’s authority on the game. EJ Harrison hit 11 points in the session, while Ralph Bucci and Steve Pilkington, who marked his ‘proper’ debut in Mohawks’ colours by putting the side’s first three points on the board after succesfully converting a free throw following a foul by Adam Slater, both hit 9.  With two minutes of the first half to play 4 points from Mohawks’ top scorer Bucci (27 pts), plus the fourth of Swaine’s threes and a basket from Pilkington, broken by only a three point reply from Andrew Thomson and Callum Jones, gave Mohawks a 30 point lead. Finishing 29-19 in Mohawks’ favour, the side clocked up a staggering 68 points before half time, while the visitors trailed 27 points behind on 41, leaving themselves a mountain to climb. Under the cosh, and clearly unable to make their extra height count in defence, spectators could have been excused for thinking the game was all over for Manchester.  But coach Jeff Jones had other ideas, and an inspired team talk sent out his players with fresh legs to chase what looked an impossible task. With a brace of six point scores from the first two quarters, visiting number 7 Steven Gayle was hardly anonymous over the first 20 minutes.  But he tore into, under, over and straight through Mohawks’ defence on the restart to create havoc around the basket over the second. Home players found him such a slippery customer that even when they could stop him, they would inevitably be called for a foul.  And the former Manchester Giant delivered a 66 per cent return from the bonus line as he amassed an incredible 38 points - a total that few of the acknowledged top National Basketball League (NBL) stars will get anywhere near at Eston over the next eight months. Magic’s own quality began to shine through as Mohawks rang the changes to give everyone a spread of court time, and from the slaughter of the first two quarters regrouped to hold the deficit to a more comfortable two points in quarter three (30-28).  Quarter four was almost a mirror-image of the opening session, with Manchester outscoring Mohawks 39-23.  Visiting skipper Wayne Mulgrave opened the scoring with the third of his four ‘threes’ but found himself trying to compete in a three-point fest he could not win – Swaine replying instantly with a three of his own. The game safe long ago, points were now beginning to dry up for Mohawks and any scoring was more than adequately cancelled out by a superb 13 points from Gayle, 6 from Haris Charalambous and contributions from Mulgrave and John Shaw over the last 6 minutes of the game. In much the same way as last season, Mohawks strength was in seeing six players in double figures, including James Nicholson, who found himself ejected in the final minute of the game following his fifth foul on a sound 16 points.  Three players hit twenty-plus. Jon Stonebridge made a successful return to the side from injury, surprisingly even making the starting 5.  And he didn’t disappoint, making sure that all 8 players on show were amongst the points. Tony Hanson said he believes the time is right for the 6 ft 9 inch centre to step up and make his mark saying:  “He’s been working hard and he’s the kind of person who needs an opportunity like that.  I think now is the time for him to assume that role and I’ve given him that challenge.  He’s got the right attitude and he works hard.  He deserves it.” The win puts Mohawks second in pool B, and the assured way they disposed of a young and athletic Manchester side, despite the lack of resources, suggests it is business as usual for Tony Hanson’s boys. A lean time in the transfer market and player unavailability saw assistant coach Paul Douglas come out of a five year retirement to bolster the squad. Head coach Hanson admitted to being pleased to get the game out of the way.  He said:  “We knew Magic would match up very well with us so I was curious to see how we would react against them so early in the season. “I think it was a great game and a good test, with both teams playing with a lot of passion and scoring extremely well.  Fortunately for us we got the right result.” In this toughest of campaigns, where Mohawks will play in more games than any other side in the NBL, there will be tougher tests.  None moreso than the coming weekend, when a Saturday evening trip to Ware Rebels (Hertfordshire) is followed just 18 hours later by a home fixture against pool B leaders Derbyshire Arrows at Eston Sports Academy (4pm tip off). .       Solent 82 Sutton 100 This proved to be a game of contrasting styles when Solent Stars were defeated 100-82 by Sutton Pumas in a pool game of the National Trophy played at Westcroft Leisure Centre.   Whilst Sutton's approach was in their ability as individual players with occasional recognised moves, Solent's playing belied their new-look status with a strong team performance  that required all eight players to work as a unit. Solent opened brightly as their comparatively young side took on a new look Sutton side that included Paul Mundy-Castle, Peter Knechtel and Mark Quashie as newcomers.  A 5 - 0pt lead was established with 2 points from David Butterworth and three from Trevor Donaldson.  But then Sutton's bigger and stronger players began to dominate the rebounding at both ends and took a 15 - 20 point lead in the seventh minute.  Solent hit back with points from Ollie Marsh, Mark Jackson and Anthony Rutter to grab the lead again (21 - 20) but with Solent having reached team fouls in the fourth minute, Sutton were able to add points from the free throw line.  John Neale notched a Solent three pointer and Alan McDonald ended the first ten minute quarter, some 30 minutes after it had started, with a lay-up to level the scores at 26 each. Once again it was Solent who opened the second quarter with the first points and soon built up a six point lead by the second minute.  A warning bell was rung as David Butterworth picked up a fourth foul in the sixth minute, having recklessly conceded two in the last minute of the first quarter.  He was withdrawn from the game and Sutton used the opportunity to pull back from a three point deficit to take a nine point lead (44 - 53) during which time Solent were unable to score.  A late rally in which four of the Solent squad scored brought them to within four points at the half time interval (52 - 56). Disaster struck for Solent when Butterworth was fouled out in the second minute of the second half.  Solent were having trouble containing the Sutton rebounders, especially 7' James Cook, and their attempts to block out players were frequently called as fouls by the sometimes over-zealous referees.   This was the main cause of Butterworth's departure and after he left Adam Willis had to continue =for the rest of the game with little respite as Sutton pressed home their numerical as well as physical advantage.  Solent were only able to add thirteen points in the quarter as the home team drew away to lead 65 - 78 at the conclusion of the third quarter. As Solent tired it looked as if Sutton would overrun them, but a spirited last quarter in which Alan McDonald landed two three pointers allowed Solent to keep in touch but finally succumbing to a 82 - 100 scoreline. Coach Mark Scott was pleased with the team's performance and singled out Adam Willis for especial praise.  "The guys showed good attitude and it was rewarding to see them  play together so well." Click here to discuss this story

 

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